newswire: 6/24/2020
- The pandemic is creating mixed results for Putin’s ambitious plans to increase Russia’s population. On the one hand, the economic fallout is suppressing the birth rate, while on the other hand it is also keeping ambitious young adults from leaving the country. (The Wall Street Journal)
- NH: Back in January, Putin announced a series of measures to boost Russia’s fertility rate. The government would start providing childcare benefits for all new mothers and upped social services for impoverished families. But the pandemic could cause a drop in the fertility rate despite the government’s baby bonuses. See, “Putin Pays Mothers To Have Babies.”
- The problem? Would-be parents have lost their jobs and now can’t afford children. In 2019, 82% of young Russians said they were putting off parenthood because of finances. The added hit of a pandemic could make that number rise. Already in the first quarter of 2020, Russians had 20,000 fewer births than during the same period last year--not a good sign for a country trying to boost its population.
- Yet there could be a silver lining to the pandemic… stopping Russia's brain drain. For years young Russians have left their home country for more prosperous economies. RANEPA, a Russia institute of higher-ed, estimates that 100,000 Russians leave the country every year. But with countries closing their borders and jobs disappearing all over the world, those who would generally emigrate have nowhere to go. COVID19 will keep many young adults within Russia's borders. And keeping Russian born in the country will be a significant victory for Putin's plan to reinvigorate the country.
